Discussion spammers
By TheRealDawn
@dawnald (85146)
Shingle Springs, California
August 13, 2010 2:25pm CST
I saw this term in a conversation I had with a friend here, and I liked it. And now I'm going to give you my definition of it:
Discussion spammer - person who posts endless, short discussions of little or no originality, probably with the intention of making as much money as quickly as possible. These people rarely or never comment back to their responders or visit other people's discussions.
While I was on vacation, my notifications from myLot piled up, and when I sorted them alphabetically by subject, I could see a pattern. And there are a few people who popped up as discussion spammers. I'm talking 10 - 20 discussions per day. Well, sorry, some of them may actually have been interesting, but when you have over 500 notifications left, the impulse to go for the delete key is pretty overwhelming.
Look, I don't tell my friends how to behave. If I visit 20 of your discussions, and you only visit one of mine, I don't keep tabs. If you sometimes comment back, and other times you don't, so what? If you're gone for months, I figure you have a life outside of here, no big deal. But a discussion spammer isn't really a friend, are they, or they would be going around visiting people occasionally and BEING a friend.
And there you have my latest myLot rant on Friday, August 13th, 2010.
How do you deal with discussion spammers?
8 people like this
38 responses
@sconibear (8016)
• United States
13 Aug 10
Shock And Awe!!! 
First I shock them when they learn they are no longer on my friend's list......
and then they are in Aaaaaaah.........when they see how much fun I'm having without them. 
First I shock them when they learn they are no longer on my friend's list......
and then they are in Aaaaaaah.........when they see how much fun I'm having without them. 3 people like this
@sconibear (8016)
• United States
13 Aug 10
Ooooh.......thanks for reminding me........I need to clean out my friend's list.
.......let's see.........I...........I-r..........I-r-i......... 
3 people like this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
13 Aug 10
I have one and they often say "let's talk" at the end of their topic - then nothing.
They never come back and say anything, not even a whisper 
This particular one does not exchange favours either.
I don't delete because there might be an interesting topic which we can all go and comment on 
This particular one does not exchange favours either.
I don't delete because there might be an interesting topic which we can all go and comment on 3 people like this
@ElicBxn (63594)
• United States
13 Aug 10
it really depends - if I do have 500 notifications, I will pass the spammers by until everything else is done... then I check to see if they are still here (as many of those spammers get removed by admin after a while) and then, if I have nothing else to do on mylot, I might look at them, decide if they might be of interest - or even still active - because most of those spammers post invalid "discussions" and they get taken down
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (63594)
• United States
13 Aug 10
I actually had a "friend" who BRAGGED about not responding to other or to people that responded to her discussions.
I frankly told her that was not acceptable, turned off her notifications and can't find her any more - I suspect that she's gone
1 person likes this
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
13 Aug 10
I actually had one of those today...so I deleted all the notifications of her discussions....then turned the notification off....I'm from the old school around here like you are...this is supposed to be discussions....well thought out etc. I don't like getting a bunch of cr*p that are basically endless discussions...and that person usually isn't one that visits my discussion either....
3 people like this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
13 Aug 10
Mine was a "he" and I turned his notifications off also...
@much2say (55655)
• Los Angeles, California
13 Aug 10
Ahhhh - so that's what they're called?! I was just thinking about this, but didn't think to post a discussion about it. Now, as I go through the home page to see what's up in myLot world, I can see and think of a few myLotters who are "discussion spammers". I initially respond like normal, but if I see the pattern of them never responding back, then I just don't go to their discussions anymore - might as well talk to a wall!! I hate how these people just hog up certain interests too (it sometimes makes MY posts get lost). I should delete such "discussion spammers", but I don't - I haven't deleted any "friends" yet. But I WILL remember names and profile pics! And they'll probably learn that if you don't support your friends, they'll eventually not support you back!!
2 people like this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
13 Aug 10
Credit to Stine1 for the expression!
I do pretty much the same, and I am also turning off their notifiers...
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
18 Aug 10
So far I have just turned off notifiers, but you could argue that a person you never interact with isn't really a friend anyway.
@much2say (55655)
• Los Angeles, California
18 Aug 10
Yah, I don't have the heart to delete a friend either. But now I'm wondering if I should . . . there's a particular someone who is hogging up some space on a daily basis . . . I'm just getting tired of having to dig through it to find certain friends' discussions!!
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (69826)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
13 Aug 10
I typically ignore them. In my opinion, people like that aren't worth my time. If I come across one of them. I'll read what they have to say, but quite often I find somewhere else to go where I can type something a little more meaningful instead of well crap that doesn't do myself or the spammer any good. In the end most get what's coming to them as their discussions end up reported or deleted. I can only say that because of the fact I've reported a discussion or two.
No matter where you go. Especially where large groups of people gather, you're bound to run into that trouble maker. Well let me tell you this. That trouble maker isn't quite worth it. As you said, they post to make as much money as possible. To quickly climb the ranks. However, in the end they may have a high post count, but I can almost bet they aren't making as much money as they might think. Find their discussions are deleted, or don't really care. The numbers aren't quite adding up as much as they would like, but that's about it. They'll eventually get it, but they are the type that think they have to try.
2 people like this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
13 Aug 10
They eventually get it or they eventually give up, either way, you're right, it's not nearly as profitable as they think...
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
18 Aug 10
Some people will scream "scam" at the drop of a hat, and give legitimate sites a bad reputation...
@rosdimy (3926)
• Malaysia
14 Aug 10
...and the saddest part is they then complain elsewhere that myLot is a scam. Usually I do not respond to discussion spammers. Even if I do it will be for members who care to read the responses.
I believe they are scaring some people away, unless they do not understand the real meaning of discussion and thinking that any form of response will earn them money.
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
13 Aug 10
I haven't really noticed, then again I have only a select few with the notifications turned on. I do have some that post a lot of discussions, but they comment to some of mine and some of theirs is interesting enough for me to reply to.
Then again since the notifications are now automatic, I sometimes do go to some that post nothing of importance and turn it off..
So you can either delete or turn off the notify link. Because I can't imagine getting over 500 e-mails, that is way too many..
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
13 Aug 10
But those e-mails accumulated over a period of two weeks, and most of that time I was away from myLot. I still get too many, but not usually like that.
Back when it wasn't automatic, I only had a select few turned on. But when I decided to turn all of them on, I turned a few of them off, and I just went and turned off a couple more. :D
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
14 Aug 10
dawnald,
I am glad that you have started this topic here and I was just thinking if I am the only one experiencing these spams from some inconsiderate narcissists who literally just killed the spirit of good discussion and most of all friendship.
There is an account which I noticed is being shared by a parent and child and the posts just does not stop. Worst of all, no comments on other kind members' responses. I just wish that the admin will look into these form of spammers and obnoxious members.
I do not know about you but they really deserved to be SACKED!! I literally have enough of their alerts filling my inbox - up to my neck.
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
16 Aug 10
dawnald,
I don't see these "guilty" parties responding to your posts here.
It only shows that these CULPRITS actually know who you are referring to and I am just dying for them to respond to your post. Really like to get my load(s) on them and I think you know what I mean here.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
18 Aug 10
They generally don't respond to my posts anyway!
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
15 Aug 10
Well as long as people keep responding to their discussions, they probably won't get sacked, but I bet fewer and fewer people are responding as they recognize the pattern.
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
13 Aug 10
Ignore would them really cause they won't earn much especially w/ the kind of replies they leave. I have not really ran into a discussion spammer recently that I can recall. But you know unless it's a discussion I'm anciously awaiting a response from I usually delete my inbox of messages... what can I say it just gets to be too much to read.
2 people like this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
13 Aug 10
I just turned off notifications to the worst discussion spammer on my list....
@LeeHolt (433)
•
13 Aug 10
I see alot of theese and it annoys me quite a bit, they obviously havn't read the guidelines, breaky many rules, and then will be moaning that they didn't really earn much. It's not the short discussion that I don't mind, it's just the hit and run behaviour, 20 topics, 1 line each and no coming back to check replies.
Lee.
2 people like this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
16 Aug 10
You know, up until very recently I wouldn't have even thought about this subject at all. I prefer to mostly answer the discussions that my friends have started, but I will also answer discussions that aren't by friends. I have found that one of my friends has become a discussion spammer and there are definitely times that I opt to not respond to their discussions. You see, I am not one that typically starts a lot of discussions and there are times that those that are starting tons and tons of discussions get on my nerves because they are really backfiring themselves.
2 people like this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Aug 10
I had a funny visual in my head when I read "backfiring themselves"...
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
18 Aug 10
I've seen a few of those. I ignore them.
And thankfully, I've learned my lesson about friend requests. Instead of accepting them right away, I would actually let them 'simmer' in the pending tab until I've known more about the user.
This way, I don't get their notifications, if indeed they are spammers.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
18 Aug 10
I am now letting mine simmer also if they have zero posts. If I come back later and they have started posted, I add them, otherwise they're gone...
@thanks1961 (7035)
• India
16 Aug 10
Hi dear,
I am not her for a long period of time. But since I am with this site I am frequent visitor and 5 days a week as regular. Even among my busy duty times also I manage to get some time to view the comments and try to participate in discussions.
Initially, I used to put up discussion questions and new queries. But now-a-days, I am busy in responding than new queries.
I priorities with the friends. First, those who respond to me, second, regular in touch with and also contents having quality and sense.
As there are so many are with many discussions a day, it is difficult to attend all. So in fact, I am concentrating more in participating, than posting a new discussion.
But, friends, instead of dropping so many a day, keep contact with our friend will attract closeness and touching.
Regards,
Thank-s
2 people like this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
18 Aug 10
Oh I'm not dropping any friends, but I have turned off notifications for a few people.
@AutumnGold (1056)
•
13 Aug 10
Hello Dawnald. I've deleted more than one discussion spammer. They posted countless discussions every day and only commented on about two responses before getting bored and forgetting about them. If people can't be bothered to take care of more than one discussion they should think before starting another nineteen and clogging up people's mail. What makes it worse is some of these are people who moan about the bad habits of "noobs" while their time would be better spent setting an example.
2 people like this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
21 Aug 10
I can answer the discussion spammer question with one word..."delete". On the subject of friends answering my discussion I'm rather at a loss. I try to answer all my friends discussions but sometimes I just cannot relate to what they are saying. Many of the people on my list are inactive or don't post discussions all that often. Of the ones that do I at least read what they write. Some of those folk to whom I reply whenever I can never respond to my discussions and it's not as if I start heaps of irrelevant flimsy discussions. Normally I don't think about it but when my memory is jogged...well, it's an unpleasant feeling shall we say.
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
22 Aug 10
I don't take it personally...if I'm getting notified of their numerous posts so is everyone else. I don't see it as "notice me" I see it as you said in your original post..they are posting "probably with the intention of making as much money as quickly as possible."
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
22 Aug 10
I don't necessarily notice if people don't stop by my discussions, but if they are flooding my in-box with tons of discussions, it's almost as if they're screaming "notice me". And I do notice, that I never see them come by my discussions. :D
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
23 Aug 10
"notice me" is more like an unintended side effect
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
15 Aug 10
I have a rule about when to delete someone from the friend notification list: when they have what you call discussion spammers and when they will accept no thought but their own. What I mean by that is that you have to agree with them and they do not agree to disagree.
As for the first, when I go to the friend's list, I have to go through all those discussions by those one or two persons to get to a good one and if there is no good one on the first few pages because obviously everyone else has to make room for the multi discusser, I give up and start searching through the other headlines.
I do not think that they make that much with all those one or two question posts.
One good post is better then ten silly and short ones.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
15 Aug 10
It is also hard to respond to their discussions. It is not easy to say much more than a short reply to someone who wants to know if you prefer tea or coffee, that is, unless you go into the discussion about Tim Hortons and Dunkin Donuts coffee. Then there will be a lot of talk about whether Tim Hortons and Dunkin Donuts use the same brand. or whether Tim stole the formula from Dunkin Donuts or visa versa. 
1 person likes this
@DawGwath (1042)
• Romania
13 Aug 10
I agree with you on this one, the internet is already full of nonesense, no need to add to that nonesense just to make a few cents. I actually left for a while because I found this site pretty darn boring (and too censoring, but that's my problem).
1 person likes this
@DawGwath (1042)
• Romania
13 Aug 10
*nonsense (correction 
)
Didn't put too much effort to sort friends and interests. I guess it's my lack of time to blame for one.
I'm against internet censorship as a general thing but in a private domain the owner makes the rules, so I'm not complaining.
)
Didn't put too much effort to sort friends and interests. I guess it's my lack of time to blame for one.
I'm against internet censorship as a general thing but in a private domain the owner makes the rules, so I'm not complaining.1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
13 Aug 10
Now you've got me humming "time is on your side" even though it isn't. :D
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
13 Aug 10
You do have to weed through a lot of junk sometimes to find good discussions, but a lot of it has to do with choosing your friends carefully. If you find enough people who post things that are interesting to you, it's much more tolerable around here. As for censoring, well... It is really, really annoying when you post something, and poof, it's gone. But on the other hand, if that didn't happen, there would be an awful lot of junky crap on here. Still, myLot doesn't always get it right when they delete discussions. I have seen a few situations where they have admitted making a mistake and reinstated discussions.
1 person likes this
@jugsjugs (12967)
•
13 Aug 10
I have loads of emails every day that says who has started what discussion,i do try to come on here and find alot of discussions to reply to aswell as try to answer as many discussions from my friends that i can.Tonight i have started a few discussions ready to respond to them aswell as a few others that i have more responses to.I hate it when there is more of a question than a discussion being started,as you can only answer with a few words or worse still a single word.I did notice last weekend that there were not many discussions being started that i could answer.So this weekend i should be able to respond to any aswell as all of the responses that i get.I have found more now, that there are alot of people that tend to send links to their other sites,which is getting on my nerves abit.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
13 Aug 10
That's annoying (the links) unless it's related to the discussion. But the ones I really hate are the ones that add you and then right away PM you with a referral link. 
@colanah (15)
• United States
13 Aug 10
Hi, I'm very new here but I am not sure how this is a problem outside of the fact that it seems to have flooded your email account for which I am rather sorry that it bothered you.
Though I would imagine that some people just like to post once and may follow their postings but haven't seen something they want to respond back to just yet.
Do you mean people that spam another's thread or do you mean people that create a new thread, well really a lot of new threads, but never reply to those who post in them?
This is where the confusion is. I'm not sure of what you mean. Could you please clarify a bit if it's not too much trouble? That way I can get an idea of what not to do just as a polite thing for other posters. ^_^
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
13 Aug 10
I'd be happy to clarify.
Every website has a 'culture', so to speak. Also, terms of service, guidelines, etc.
In the case of myLot, this is a discussion forum. You post a topic, people reply to it, and you have a discussion with them. Posting endless topics and then never replying back to people is not really "discussing".
As far as the guidelines, you can read them here:
http://www.mylot.com/o/guidelines.aspx
But one of the things they tell you is not to start meaningless discussions, not to start discussions that are repeats of other discussions, not to start discussions that are "polls" or ask yes/no questions, etc. Many of these people who post endless lists of discussions are breaking one or more of these guidelines.
If a guideline is broken, and the discussion is deleted, all the people who replied to that discussion lose out on their earnings for that discussion.
So my problem with the whole thing is that those people are cheating people. They are cheating people out of what they came here for, which in most people's cases is:
1. interaction, conversation, discussion
2. their earnings
Does that help?
